Many of the Republican senators who pledged to oppose the ratification of President Joe Biden’s election victory in the general election changed their minds late Wednesday after a violent crowd of President Donald Trump’s supporters on Wednesday descended on the American Capitol.
Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., Who personally promised Trump two days ago during a rally that she would object to the certification, turned around and said she could not follow ‘with a clear conscience’ to object to Biden ‘s presidency.
“When I arrived in Washington this morning, I was fully committed to objecting to the certification of the election votes. However, the events that took place today forced me to reconsider and I can no longer object in good conscience. not, “Loeffler said. in what may be her last speech in the chamber after his re-election to Rev. Raphael Warnock lost in the Senate runoff of Georgia one day.
More than a quarter of Senate Republicans and possibly many Republicans in the House on Monday planned to contest the outcome of the 2020 general election.
The Senate voted 93-6 against objections to the Arizona statement. Republican Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Cindy Hyde-Smith, John Neely Kennedy, Roger Marshall and Tommy Tuberville all came through with objections against the voters.
The term in the Senate for former Republican senator David Perdue – who lost to Jon Ossoff in the run-up to Georgia this week – ends on January 3, leaving 99 voters behind.
In the House, 121 Republicans – 57% of the conference – voted in favor of the Arizona objection, including Kevin McCarthy, leader of the House of Representatives of California, and Steve Scalise of Louisiana of the House minority whip. The House rejects the challenge against Arizona’s election votes, 303-121.
Like Loeffler, Senator Jim Lankford, R-Okla., Reconsidered his objections.
“While we do not agree – and sometimes strongly disagree – we never encourage what happened today,” Lankford said. ‘We’re on track to certify Joe Biden as [president of the United States] and we will work together. ‘
Earlier this week, Lankford was one of 11 senators who supported a proposal written by Cruz, R-Texas, to set up an election commission to review voter fraud claims, specifically ‘to consider the controversial returns and on te los’.
Cruz, along with Arizona Rep Rep. Paul Gosar, objected to Arizona Electoral College just before pro-Trump protesters began taking over the Capitol. On Wednesday night, Gosar tweeted that he will continue with his plan with Cruz and Arizona, Andy Biggs. A member of the House as well as the Senate, regardless of the state in which they represent, must object to the certification of a state to bring the matter to a vote.
“Left-wing violence, or any violence, will not deter our mission for truth and transparency. The people need the truth and deserve it,” Gosar said, blaming the “left” for the violence.
Hawley, who was the first senator to announce that he would oppose the vote against the Electoral College, reaffirmed on Wednesday that he would not withdraw his objection either, doubling calls for an investigation into electoral fraud, the demands of which have court is thrown.
“[I want] to tell millions of Americans [that] violence is never justified, that violence will not be tolerated, that those who participate in it will be persecuted, but that this body will act to address the concerns of all Americans across the country. “We do need to investigate irregularities, fraud,” Hawley said.
Although Senator Steven Danies, R-Mont., Had not earlier announced that he intended to object to the outcome of the Electoral College, he issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the violence.
“We must stand together. We will not allow the violence of today to deter Congress from certifying the election. We must restore confidence in our electoral process. We must, and we will, have a peaceful and orderly transition of power,” he said. Daines wrote.
Sen. Mitt Mitt, R-Utah, who voted in his Senate indictment for Trump’s conviction early last year, urged people to respect the democratic process.
“For anyone who is constantly on an audit to satisfy the many people who believe the election was stolen, I want to offer this perspective: no congressional audit will ever convince these voters, especially when the president continues. to say no. the election was stolen, “Romney said.” The best way we can show respect for the voters who were upset is to tell them the truth. “
Despite supporting the challenge for Electoral College, McCarthy called for unity following the events Wednesday.
“We will not waver, we will not bend and we will not deviate from our duty. Let me be very clear, crowds of people do not rule America, laws rule America. That was true when our cities burned this summer. , and it’s true now, “McCarthy said.
“Let’s show the country that the mob has not won,” the California Republican added. “We have a task to do, let’s do it with pride and let’s be better when the sun rises tomorrow.”